After more than a year at Saint Laurent, the outrage at Hedi Slimane’s approach to the label is dying down. It’s not a panacea.

Those babydoll dresses again for spring 2014? Meh. The lips-print dress, a little Rolling Stones and a little Kenzo? Mmhmm. The piles of tulle on a one-shouldered dress have been better done by Viktor & Rolf. But give me those ice-edged Hedi Slimane skinny pants, the narrow lapel jackets, the versions of biker jackets that range from louche to Hells Angels-chic: oohh my!

This is what casual Friday on Wall Street should be: leather lapels, skinny ties, perfectly tailored gray suits with cropped pants, and princess heels in black leather with studs. Mr. Slimane makes adroit allusions to Yves Saint Laurent, the founder of the house, such as his version of the famous Le Smoking tuxedo this season, done as a skinny Slimane jumpsuit.

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